Hawk Behavioral shots

Ann McRae

I went out to find the hawks after work yesterday. The first thing I found really worried me:


I cannot think of another bird with large brown banded feathers. I also cannot imagine a predator nearby. :dunno

So I went to the other side of the building, and hit the jackpot in numbers of hawks, but didn't get any of them close up. I saw 4 individuals, including this dark morph that I have not seen before:



The lighter one was quite aggressive and buzzed me several times - not in focus mind you! These two were squacking and being answered by others. Eventually four of them were airborn near me at once.

The dark morph BBIF:


The light morph soaring:


and then a juvenile (one of two that appeared together) with lunch:



I think that was a rabbit.
Not going to share:




Swainsons migrate to southern Argentina, and do so in large flocks. I do not know if this is a single family (I do know that we there is a nesting pair in our field) or if these are a bunch gathering up before heading out for the winter.

ann

jonh68

Great shots. Hawks and raptors are the type of birds that when you see them, you just sit and watch. They are beautiful, but at the same time, very dangerous.

Maestro

The last one is very nice. Nice eye contact.

Harryb

Excellent ste Ann.

raptorcaptor

Great shots Ann! The MarkIIN is a great camera( once you get used to the UI) Have you seen the other fledgling?

Ann McRae

Thanks John. I am in awe of all birds, and flight with such small brains! Makes me wonder what my brain is good for!

I really love how photography makes me pay attention to things like this. I'd never have looked up Swainson's migration if it weren't for these shots.

ann

jonh68 wrote:

Great shots. Hawks and raptors are the type of birds that when you see them, you just sit and watch. They are beautiful, but at the same time, very dangerous.

Ann McRae

Thanks Stephen - more eye contact, but slightly soft and noisy (and kinds gross):

Maestro wrote:

The last one is very nice. Nice eye contact.

Ann McRae

Thank you, grand master!

ann

Harryb wrote:

Excellent ste Ann.

Ann McRae

The MkIi UI still has me baffled a bit - need more time to get used to it, but boy is it responsive! Wow!

I do not know the fate of the other fledgling, or whose feathers those are...but it is sadly ominous. Only predators I can think of in that environment would be other raptors.

ann

raptorcaptor wrote:

Great shots Ann! The MarkIIN is a great camera( once you get used to the UI) Have you seen the other fledgling?